Our weekly interview with Walnut High senior Cindy Chen, founder of IgniteHER, a nonprofit dedicated to sparking change.
Q: What was the moment, whether personal or social, that pushed you to spark change?
A: Growing up, I was always called “bossy” just for taking initiative or “sensitive” just for expressing emotion—but boys around me were praised for being “assertive” and “leaders.” Those labels made me retreat and question myself. But eventually I realized that the moments that made me feel small—being dismissed or underestimated—were exactly why I needed to speak up. That anger and frustration turned into action, and ultimately, that’s what pushed me to create IgniteHER: a space where girls could turn those labels into leadership.
Q: How have you and your team handled the rapid growth since inception?
A: Honestly, it’s been a challenge. We’ve grown into 100+ chapters across 66 countries, which means coordinating across time zones and languages can be overwhelming. But my team and I are committed to personal connection—whether it’s one-on-one calls, late-night planning sessions, or simply showing up consistently. Our growth hasn’t been easy, but it’s been sustained because of shared passion and the willingness to put in the work.
Q: What were some of your favorite moments so far?
A: Some highlights have been our global conferences—seeing hundreds of young women from all over the world log into the same Zoom room was incredibly powerful. I’ll never forget when a girl from India told us our consent workshop was the first time anyone had ever made her feel proud to be a girl—or when we hosted a UN Youth Forum side event and realized this isn’t just a small organization anymore; it’s a movement. Those moments remind me why we keep pushing.
Q: What impact has IgniteHER made on a local and global scale?
A: Globally, we’ve reached well over 1 million people through campaigns on issues like reproductive justice, breast cancer awareness, and gender-based violence. Locally, we’ve collected thousands of donations for women’s shelters, hosted workshops in schools, and advocated for policy changes with state legislators. We empower girls and we build solidarity across borders.
Q: How did you plan everything out, or did you take it one day at a time?
A: At the beginning, it was one day at a time. I didn’t sit down with a week-by-week plan for how the next three years would play out—I just knew the mission mattered. Over time, we built more structure: a board of directors, regional chapter leads, and strategic campaigns. But in truth, the heart of IgniteHER has always been rooted in adaptability. We listen to what girls on the ground need, we hear their voices, and we shape our projects around that. We always aim to put voices at the front of our advocacy.
Q: What was the initial reaction from those around you when you first brought the movement up to them?
A: At first, some people doubted me—they thought I was “too young” or that IgniteHER was “just another club.” There were especially a lot of boys at my school who would call me things like an “angry feminist” or say I was trying too hard. But the people who mattered—my peers, other young women who desperately needed this kind of space—understood immediately. Once we launched our first campaigns, the energy was just amazing. The criticism ended up fueling me—because I knew that if people couldn’t imagine it, that meant it hadn’t been done yet, and it was ours to build.
Q: How can other young ladies and women join and support the IgniteHER Project?
A: It’s simple: you can start or join a chapter at your school, university, or community. We provide resources, training, and mentorship for all of our leaders. If you don’t have time to start a chapter, you can join our global campaigns, contribute to our publications, or even just follow and share our work on social media. Every action, big or small, adds to the collective power of this movement. You can visit our Instagram @igniteherproject to learn more!
Q: Some advice for high school girls needing encouragement as they grow and learn about themselves.
A: You’re going to be underestimated and stereotyped. People will call you “too loud,” “too ambitious,” or “too emotional.” Don’t let that stop you—those are often the very qualities that make you a true leader. Be proud of being a woman, and be proud of being a feminist! Don’t shrink yourself, take up space, ask the uncomfortable questions, and know that your voice has value. And if you ever doubt it, remember that IgniteHER was built on the voices of girls who refused to stay silent—and it exists today because a few young women were brave enough to embrace being unapologetic feminists.
